General Statements
Berry College reserves the right to change in whatever manner it deems necessary the requirements regarding admission; to drop, add, or change the arrangement of courses, curricula, academic standards, or requirements for retention, graduation, degrees and all other regulations of the college. Such regulations shall be effective whenever determined by the appropriate faculty and administrative bodies; they may govern both continuing and new students without actual notice to individual students. Information on changes will be available from academic advisors or appropriate administrative offices and will be published in subsequent issues of the catalog.
Berry College admits students of any race, creed, color, sex, age, religion, national and ethnic origin, or qualified handicap to all the rights, privileges, programs and activities generally accorded or made available to students at the college. Berry does not discriminate on the basis of race, creed, color, sex, age, religion, national or ethnic origin, or qualified handicap in administration of its educational policies, admissions policies, scholarship and loan programs, and athletic and other college administered programs.
Berry College makes no claim that a course of study will lead to positions of employment.
Privacy Statement
Berry College respects the privacy of all Web site visitors. The purpose of this policy is to alert users of the ways that the site collects, processes and protects your information.
Listed below are several ways in which our site/servers might collect information during your visit:
Network Traffic/Web Activity Logs:
In order to monitor network security, to maintain service consistency and to improve services offered, Berry College uses software applications and/or services that monitor network traffic, identify security issues and detect unauthorized software such as viruses. While monitoring the system, these programs may detect personally identifiable information such as e-mail headers, passwords, etc. In addition, web activity is logged that includes but is not limited to pages visited, site routes, date and time stamps, referring site information, IP or domain addresses and browser information. The site makes no attempt to identify individual visitors from this information. In the case of both network traffic and Web activity logs, any personally identifiable information is not released to external parties without your consent, unless required by law.
Cookies:
Cookies are small text files that are written to a designated area of your hard drive that can be used to help the Web site remember information, such as data that needs to be carried from one page to the next or to identify you automatically without the need to log into a site. Cookies are saved on your computer and therefore you control them. If you prefer not to receive cookies from the Web site, you have several options to allow for this in your browser configuration. Disabling cookies, however, may limit your access to information or features of certain areas of the site. Unless otherwise notified, we do not track your movements using cookies or exchange cookie files with third parties.
Voluntary Provided User Information:
If you choose to provide us with certain information while visiting the site, such as sending us electronic mail, using a form to correspond or request information, or registering for access to protected site sections, your information will only be used for internal purposes. Personally identifiable information will only be used for the purpose indicated. In the case of individuals associated with Berry College (i.e. alumni, students), submitted information may also be used to update your current records. Each Web page requesting information discloses the purpose of that information. If you do not wish to have the information used in that manner, it is your option not to provide it.
As with most university and college Web sites, we provide resource links to other Web sites. These third party sites are not controlled by Berry College. We do not endorse them and are not responsible for their availability, content or service. In addition, these sites may not conform to this privacy policy or may have no policy at all. In most cases, you can confirm that you are leaving the Berry College Web site by noting the URL of the destination site.
If you have questions about the Berry College Web site or this online privacy statement, contact the Web manager at contact the Web manager or 706-368-6747.
Copyright Policy and Notification Procedures
The owner of a copyright holds exclusive rights to the reproduction and distribution of the copyrighted work. Duplication of any copyrighted work is prohibited unless specifically allowed for in a license agreement. Unauthorized copying of intellectual work and/or software is illegal and punishable under federal law.
As members of the academic community, we value the free exchange of ideas; however, respect for the intellectual work and property of others is essential to the mission of all educational institutions.
Copyright Infringement Notification – Agent to Receive Notification of Claimed Infringement
This is to notify copyright owners that the agent to receive infringement statutory notices under the Digital Millennium Copyright Act is Alan Storey, executive assistant to the president.
A copyright owner needing to send such notice to Berry College should submit the notice in writing to:
Alan Storey
Berry College
P.O. Box 490039
Mount Berry, GA 30149
E-mail: astorey@berry.edu
Phone: 706-236-2227
Fax: 706-236-2238
For more information about copyright, see www.whatiscopyright.org.
Computer Use and Ethics Policy
Introduction
The following sets forth Berry College’s policy for the management and use of
computers, data networks, and associated computing resources that are owned and
administered by Berry College. This policy reflects the ethical principles of the Berry
College community and indicates what privileges and responsibilities are characteristic of
the Berry College computing environment.
In support of the College’s mission of teaching, research, and public service, the
Information Technology Department provides computing, networking, and
information resources to the college community of students, faculty, and staff in support
of the programs of the college. All users are responsible for seeing that these computing
facilities are used in an effective, efficient, and lawful manner.
Privileges and Responsibilities
Computers and networks provide access to resources on and off campus, as well as the
ability to communicate with other users worldwide. Such open access is a privilege and
requires that individual users act responsibly. Users must respect the interests of other
users; respect the integrity of the systems and related physical resources; and observe all
relevant laws, regulations, and contractual obligations, and applicable college rules and
regulations.
Students and employees may have rights of access to information about themselves
contained in computer files, as specified in federal and state laws. In addition, system
administrators may access user files as necessary to protect the integrity of computer
systems. For example, following organizational guidelines, system administrators may
access or examine files or accounts that are suspected of unauthorized use or misuse, or
that have been corrupted or damaged.
Existing Legal Context
All existing laws (federal and state) and college regulations and policies apply,
including not only those laws and regulations that are specific to computers and
networks, but also those that may apply generally to personal conduct. Users are held
accountable for their conduct under any applicable college policies and procedures.
Misuse of computing, networking, or information resources may result in the loss of
computing privileges. Additionally, misuse can be prosecuted under applicable statutes.
Complaints alleging misuse of computing resources will be directed to those
responsible for taking appropriate disciplinary action. Illegal reproduction of software
protected by U.S. Copyright Law is subject to civil damages and criminal penalties
including fines and imprisonment.
Examples of Misuse
Examples of misuse include, but are not limited to, the activities in the following list:
Using a computer account or password other than your own.
Using the campus network to gain unauthorized access to any computer or network
Performing an act which will interfere with the normal operation of computers, terminals, peripherals, or networks.
Knowingly running or installing on any computer system or network, or giving to another user, a program intended to damage or to place excessive load on a computer system or network. This includes but is not limited to programs known as computer viruses, Trojan horses, and worms.
Attempting to circumvent data-protection schemes or uncover security loopholes.
Violating terms of applicable software licensing agreements or copyright laws.
Wasting computer resources.
Using electronic communications to threaten, harass or intimidate others, or to transmit or store pornographic materials.
Masking the identity of an account or machine.
Posting on electronic bulletin boards materials that violate applicable laws or regulations or college rules or regulations, including but not limited to the Berry College code of conduct.
Attempting to monitor or tamper with another user’s electronic communications, or reading, copying, changing, or deleting another user’s files or software without the explicit agreement of the owner.
Using the college’s electronic mail and/or equipment for solicitation, advertising, or for any commercial purpose unrelated to official college business. Activities will not be considered misuse when authorized by appropriate college officials for security or performance testing. Infractions may require that the person(s) responsible be interviewed by the Director of Network Services where either a warning is issued or if of a more serious nature, referred to the Dean of Students. If any local, state or federal laws are violated, appropriate authorities will be contacted.
FERPA
Access to Student Information
Under provisions of the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act of 1974, as
amended, students have the right of access to official records maintained on them by the
institution.
A student may inspect and review the following educational records by filing a written
request with the designated official. Although normally access may be obtained without
undue delay, officials are permitted a 45-day period within which to respond to any
request.
- Registrar: Admission file (except confidential statements obtained under the
waiver of access right provision and letters of recommendation received prior to
January 1, 1975) Permanent academic record and related academic information.
- Dean of Students: Biographical material furnished by students
Recognized activity record
Honors and awards received
Photograph(s)
Official withdrawal forms
Discipline record
- Director of Career Development: Placement records (except statements obtained
prior to January 1, 1975, and recommendations obtained under the waiver of
access right provision)
- Director of Counseling: Personal counseling record (may be reviewed only by
another appropriate professional person of the student’s choice)
- Director of Student Financial Aid: Financial aid records (except the parents’
financial records)
- Director of the Health and Wellness Center: Medical record, in addition to review
by the school physician, may be reviewed only by another physician of the
student’s choice
- Chaplain: Personal counseling record (may be reviewed only by another
appropriate person of the student’s choice)
The student may challenge information contained in these records as inaccurate,
misleading, or in violation of privacy and may provide a written explanation of the
contents for insertion in the record. Challenge to information in the educational record
may be initiated in writing by the student with the college official responsible for
maintaining the record.
Students may obtain a copy of any item in these official files with the exception of
transcripts from other institutions and the excluded items listed under each of the
preceding offices. The student will pay $1 per copy of any page reproduced.
Copies of the student’s official transcript will be released only on the written request
of the student and only after all delinquent accounts to the college have been paid. An
official copy of a student’s transcript will not be released to the student, but will be
mailed to any institutional address as requested. Requests for transcripts will be
processed in the order in which they are received. Students may request an unofficial
copy for their own use. The fee for official transcripts is $3 a copy, and official
transcripts that must be processed on a rushed basis are $5 a copy. Currently enrolled
students will not be charged for unofficial student copies of their transcript.
Directory Information
The Family Educational Rights and Privacy Acts of 1974, as amended, also provides
that the following categories of information may be released by the college as public
unless the student chooses to have the information withheld. Such information may be
routinely released to certain inquirers and the news media unless the student requests in
writing that either all or any part of this list be withheld.
- Name
- Address, both
a. home and
b. residence hall and room number, or
c. local area address for commuter students
- Current telephone listing
- Place of birth
- Major field of study
- Berry e-mail address
- Status (full-time/part-time)
- Participation in officially recognized activities and sports
- Weight and height of members of athletic teams
- Dates of attendance, including current classification and year, matriculation, and
withdrawal dates
- Degrees, awards, and honor received, including dates granted
- The most recent previous educational agency of institution attended
- Identification photograph
Inquiries for directory information are received from a variety of sources such as
parents, relatives, friends, prospective employers, graduate schools, honor societies,
licensing agencies, government agencies, and news media. A decision by the student not
to release this information, that is, to remove it from the directory list, will result in
refusals of such information to all inquirers, including family members, except when such
information is necessary to protect the health or safety of the student or other persons.
For example, a prospective employer wishing to confirm pertinent data, an honor society
seeking qualifications on prospective members, or other such requests would be denied
that information.
It is the student’s responsibility to make the request to withhold directory
information. Berry College will honor a request to withhold any information listed
but cannot assume responsibility to contact the student for subsequent permission to
release the information. Berry College assumes no liability for failure to honor the
student’s instructions that information be withheld.
Forms for withdrawing information from the directory list may be completed in
the registrar’s office within five class days after the close of the official registration
period. The registrar will notify other officials of the withdrawal of information.
Recommended Grievance Policy
The college has established policies for dealing with grade appeals, academic standards, student conduct, residence hall policies, sexual harassment and academic integrity, and students, faculty and staff should follow the processes described in those policies. In other areas not covered by written policies, students who believe they had been denied access to the programs and services of Berry College may appeal these by contacting the provost regarding academic grievances or the vice president of student affairs and enrollment management regarding non-academic or athletic grievances. The administrator will investigate the complaint and respond promptly. Following this, decisions resulting from the investigation may be appealed to the president of the college.
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